Thursday 14th February 07:30
While the lads are doing all this Richard takes the opportunity to visit the training grounds to see how the others are getting on and to check on the drainage work being carried out at the new training academy. He returns to the Reebok for lunch (home made sarnies) at 1.00pm.
13:30
The lads set out the strings for over marking using a 5” wide transfer wheel marker - this takes just over an hour to complete.
Richard, followed by Mark, Calum and Niall just before 8.00am, arrives for work. Their first task is to prepare the pitch ready for an inspection by UEFA officials, due to take place at 9.30am. The pitch is set up as it will be on the night. This includes putting out all the corner flags, portable goals and behind goal netting systems.
The inspection involves a number of UEFA officials and match officials who ensure that the pitch and ground facilities comply with UEFA rules and regulations.
Richard shares his office with the stadium’s safety officer. It is located under the south stand and is the nerve centre for match day operations. Amongst all the box files, posters and computer bits and pieces is a small weather station, which keeps him informed of conditions within the stadium environment.
10:00
Mark, Calum and Niall begin the job of cutting and marking out the pitch.
14:30
All the equipment is put away and the final pitch checks are made ensuring the goals and practice goals and ball stop fencing are safe and secure.
Niall strings out the band pattern chosen for the game allowing Mark and Calum to get on with the mowing, double cutting the pitch at a height of 25mm using their Dennis pedestrian mowers.
09:00
UEFA delegates arrive to carry out their inspection. Richard joins them just in case there are any problems. The match officials also inspect the playing surface checking pitch markings and goal posts. All goes well and Richard and his staff can, finally, get on with the rest of the day’s work!
15:00 13:00
it is detrimental to the surface - a win is more important than the appearance of the surface.
The amount of irrigation used pre-match is determined by weather conditions and discussions with team manager Gary Megson and his coaching staff during a pre-match meeiting. More water will be added if the manager requests it, even if
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